Edward Craven

Edward B. Craven (Ted) passed away peacefully on January 7, 2017. He was born to Edward B. Craven and Pamelia Ann Adams on July 2, 1921 in Boulder Colorado. He lived his early life in Chicago and Boston. He started college at Boston College, and transferred to Loyola University in Chicago to finish his pre-med and receive his Doctor of Medicine degrees.

In 1944, he married Cornelie Kuylaars. They moved to California for his internship at San Diego County General Hospital. At the end of this internship, he had to fulfill his commitment to the Army and was assigned to Fort Mason in San Francisco. With WWII over, his duties were as a transport surgeon on the hospital ship Mercy transporting dependents overseas and bringing troops back home.

In 1950, he and his family returned to Boulder and he began his long medical career as a general practitioner. In 1967, he changed his specialty from general practice to anesthesiology, retiring in 1987.

In 1968 he married Helen Craven. They lived together in Boulder until 2002, when they moved to Longmont. Ted and Helen enjoyed camping, fishing and snow skiing. They traveled to many destinations in the United States and sailed for a week in the Virgin Island with friends. He loved to read and ride his bike on the Boulder bike paths. He was an avid fan of the Broncos and the Rockies and would frequently call to make sure you got the latest news. Up until the time he lost his eyesight we would go to a least one Rockies/Cubs game a year – even though he did root for the Rockies.

After retirement, he loved to garden and raised vegetables and beautiful flowers and roses. He was always scouting around for something new, exotic and colorful for the yard. He loved his computer and traded jokes with his friends. He played golf once a week at Haystack with his friends and was a member of a group of retired doctors, who met once a month for lunch.

He also volunteered at the Boulder Public Library delivering books, the historical society in Boulder identifying old buildings and Boulder Community Hospital.

He came to many high school events to watch his grandson, Chris play baseball and his great granddaughter, McKenzie play softball. He loved to be out with the family and even though he was losing his eyesight, we would give him the play by play.

When he lost his eyesight, he did so with grace and a determination to stay informed. He listened to the radio and books on tape. Except for errands and appointments, he remained independent and created a system to take care of everything by himself.

He was word smith and did not hesitate to correct any grammatical error.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Cornelie, and his second wife, Helen, his son, Kelly and his daughter, Pamela. He is survived by seven children, Tony Craven (Bobbie), Ellyn Craven (Rick Brebner), Paul Craven (Margaret), Michael Craven (Mary), John Craven, Patrick Craven, and Daniel Craven (Nancy), four grandchildren Cody, Pamela, Hannah, Conner, and two great grandchildren, Sage and Ares.

He is also survived by his step children, Shirley Wergin (Dave), Rick Peters (Lonna), four grandchildren, Chris Wergin (Tammy), Jenifer(Wergin) Sullivan (Paul), Allyson (Peters) Vigus (Ryan), Kaylie Peters, and six great grandchildren, McKenzie, Keegan and Kamryn Wergin, Kate Sullivan, and Daniel and Caroline Vigus.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Twin Peaks Golf Course-1200 Cornell Dr. Longmont, CO 80503, on Saturday, January 21st from 4:00 until 7:00. We hope to see many of you at his Celebration of Life and share your memories and tall tales with family and friends. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and Big Bapa.

You will be missed by all of us who loved you.